Notes
It was 71 degrees when i got up at 5:45 this morning. I was already sweating after my little warm-up jog around grant park. Standing in the corral, I decided to start out real slow, and see how i felt. Talking to a guy next to me, i decided that dropping at least 15 minutes from my goal of 3:30 would be a good plan.
After the first couple miles i was well warmed up, and I felt surprisingly good. There was a lot of shade in the first several miles, and it was easy to stay hidden in it (which i did). About mile 9, i saw Akel out cheering on me, and a couple other folks he knows. Saw Katie at about mile ten. We ran for a bit, but i was still feeling really good, and was running along with the 3:40 pacers. Oh i had great plans to pass them mind you, but wanted to wait until mile 24 or 25 to make my move as it was still getting hotter.
That mile 17 was the first tough one, and i started feeling glad that i started out slow. I grabbed a Gu there, and water, and felt a little better. Still trying to stay in the shade.
I guess i started seeing runners down at about 18 or 19. Ambulance sirens started about that point too, and they came and went until the end, occurring more frequently the longer i ran. I also saw one or two that were doing that delusional staggering you may have seen on an episode of Arrested Development.
Mile 20 brought with it, the sign in front of a bank announcing the time, and a temperature of 32 degs C. I knew that that was right around 90 F, and just hoped that the sign was off (and sure enough, it was only 88, but 88 is hot coming off the asphalt [not to mention while you're running for 3 hours]).
By mile 24, i knew i was pretty close to my previous best time of 3:43:05, if i could just run a couple of quick miles. But it was hot, and muggy, and i tried, but it was tough enough keeping up 9 minute miles.
So that was the 2007 Chicago Marathon.
I got my medal, had lots of water, a banana, and an ice cold beer, met Yasmien at Buckingham Fountain then heard the announcement that the marathon was now a "Fun Run", and runners were being re-routed from mile 13, back to Grant Park. Then about 3 minutes later, it was announced that the race was cancelled and people were going to be busses to the finish. I only hoped that Katie was shortly behind me, but i knew she wouldn't have gotten on a damn bus during a race!
Glad to hear she made it safe and sound. Knowing that she wouldn't make a PR, she just cruised and enjoyed the run.
The record heat led to too many dehydration cases, so it was called on that account. Happily, i'd already finished, and close to by previous best. Initially upon finishing, i was disappointed that i hadn't beat 3:43:00, but the heat is always tough on me, so: all things considered, i'm happy with it.
Favorite sign seen on the course: You'd think it was the "Free Beer" sign i saw around mile 14 but the one reading "I like fast women" took the cake this year.
Chip Stats:
START 0:03:27
5K 0:26:38
10K 0:52:16
15K 1:18:05
20K 1:44:02
HALF 1:49:38
25K 2:09:49
30K 2:36:35
35K 3:04:37
40K 3:33:28
FINISH 3:44:53
TIME Chip Time: 3:44:53 Clock: 3:48:20 Pace: 8:34
Placement: Overall: 2062 Gender: 1636 Division: 305
My watch laps:
25:48 Miles 1-3
16:26 4 and 5
8:16
16:37 7 and 8
8:20
8:16
8:20
8:25
8:17 (1:49:38 at the half)
8:28
8:13
8:21
8:19
8:50
8:53
9:00
9:00
9:01
9:21
9:13
9:13
10:07 26.2